"They're all loaded! We can head out any time!" The First soldier yelled from the bridge of the Ranger.

"You heard it here, girls! Weigh anchor and engines ahead flank!" Ranger spoke into her receiver.

"Aye Aye!" The girls of the Union fleet spoke in response as they lurched forward, under the flak and AA defenses of the Washington and the Cruisers.

"Where are we headed?" Benson asked over the radio.

"We're heading for Bermuda. Admiral Garner has given us orders to assist the girls already there." Ranger said.

"Who the hell is Admiral Garner?" Washington spat.

"He's the one who currently has a fleet controlling Bermuda and the pacific island chain." Ranger replied sternly.

"Watch your tone, flat top." Washington ground out.

"As a teacher to our newer carriers, and to our destroyer fleets, I would be honored to be the one to teach a battleship some manners." Ranger said as Wichita came back between them.

"Both of you cool your boilers. Let's get out of port before we start bickering with each other. Remember, we're on the same side." Wichita said as Atlanta's voice came over the radio.

"How nice, for Wichita to be the voice of reason. Reno would be so proud." Atlanta said softly.

"Don't expect it often, Atlanta. I just don't want Ranger to wipe the floor with Washington before I get my licks in." Wichita said with a snide laugh.

"Wipe the floor with me?!" Washington yelled.

"Yeah! You tend to forget, she can attack you outside of your battery range. And if she did that, you'd have no way to retaliate." Wichita said with a shrug.

Washington scoffed as Ranger stuck out her tongue.

"All of you, please. We have refugees onboard. No fighting." San Diego said, her usual joyful tone seemed to be dampened by the reality of their situation.

"Sandy..." Atlanta said as she looked at her usually high energy sister.

"You said Bermuda, Ranger?" San Diego asked.

"Yes. Let's get going. If we get out of range, we should be able to give the AA guns a break." Ranger said as the AA off the side of her flight deck blazed away.

"Fine... but this isn't finished, flattop." Washington sneered as they sailed out of port.

XXXXXVVVVVXXXXX

"Tirpitz, come look at this." Illustrious said as she sat where Warspite used to, right in front of the radar and radio setup.

Tirpitz strolled over to Illustrious and slipped out of her coat, sitting next to Illustrious, who scooted over onto Tirpitz's lap.

"What do you have, Lusty?" Tirpitz asked.

"A fleet leaving the Union. Four cruisers, one destroyer, one battleship and one carrier." Illustrious said.

"Can we contact them?" Tirpitz asked.

"I believe I can." Illustrious said.

"Contact them, let them know we're here." Tirpitz said as she crossed her arms over Illustrious's midriff.

"Tirpitz... stop, we're on duty today." Illustrious said.

"So? You and I are the commanding forces right here right now. We can do as we please." Tirpitz said.

Illustrious looked over her shoulder at Tirpitz.

"Oh, fine. But allow me to contact this fleet first. I would like to monitor them so they aren't followed." Illustrious said.

"I'm not stopping you." Tirpitz said as Illustrious dialed in the union frequency.

"Union fleet. Union fleet come in." Illustrious said.

After a few seconds, Ranger's voice came through.

"Hello?" Ranger asked.

"Ranger, this is Illustrious, carrier of the Royal Navy." Illustrious said.

"Royal Navy huh? Where are you?" Ranger asked.

"I am in Bermuda with Tirpitz and a few other girls, along with a lot of French humans who are maintaining the base." Illustrious said.

"So there are Royal Navy girls in Bermuda as well?" Ranger asked herself.

"That's excellent. I'm sailing out of Boston Naval Yards with several other ships." Ranger said.

"We have you. 4 cruisers, a destroyer and a battleship are accompanying you?" Illustrious asked.

"That is correct. We have about 4000 refugees onboard. Do you have space for them?" Ranger asked.

"We will have to split them up. But bring them here and get to safety first. We have the capability to disperse a great many of them into the civilian population here in Bermuda, so just bring them here and we will do what we can." Illustrious said.

"Understood. We're currently under air assault from the Strategist class sirens and Siren aircraft. So it might take us a while longer than anticipated." Ranger said as Illustrious and Tirpitz could hear the sounds of AA guns in the background.

"We have Akashi here to help with repairs. I can also head out with Azuma to help intercept you and bring you in with extra air cover." Illustrious said.

"That would be much appreciated. The entirety of the Boston Siren force is on our tails. It's taking most of our attention to keep the Siren craft from hitting anything vital." Ranger said.

"Understood. I will gather Azuma and depart immediately." Illustrious said as she cut the line.

"You're leaving?" Tirpitz asked as she caressed Illustrious's face.

"Yes. I need to help our newest allies." Illustrious said as she turned to face Tirpitz.

"Well... make sure you come back in one piece. You and my sister are the only ones I am close to... so I'd hate to lose you." Tirpitz said.

"I know... my frozen Queen." Illustrious said softly as she stood and walked to the door.

Tirpitz watched the carrier walk out of view, none the wiser that Spee was standing next to her.

"You know... I know I said to at least try and talk to her, but I didn't expect you to sleep with her." Spee said, startling Tirpitz.

"I... I didn't sleep with her!" Tirpitz said.

"Don't deny it. I heard you two the other night while I was walking around the compound with Eugen." Spee said.

"Shut up! She's... nice. And she isn't as hyperactive as her sister, Victorious. So what? Am I not allowed to find happiness?" Tirpitz spat.

"Nobody said that, Tirpitz. I'm quite happy that the two of you hit it off like you did. My only concern is what happens when we find Victorious. How will she take it?" Spee asked.

"I... I'm warming up to the idea of being happy with someone... so maybe I might be a little warmer this time around." Tirpitz said.

"Going the route of the Kommandant?" Spee asked.

"Not at all. But... I do miss Victorious as well. Maybe she'll accept me as her friend." Tirpitz said as she watched the white hat of Illustrious disappear completely from view.

"...And that was how we won the Battle of Jutland." Warspite said as she looked at Roon, who had sat herself next to the old Battleship.

"Quite the tale, Tea drinker. It sounds like you've had quite the experience." Roon said, mulling over the tale that Warspite had spun.

"Of course. But, I don't think I'm up to the task much anymore. My hull is quite dated and I know I'd be a goner if I'd attempt to fight a newer cruiser such as yourself." Warspite said, allowing her pride to slip.

"Nein... I mean, I'm here without a ship. And I have no strategy for war. I kill for the sake of killing. I do what I'm told. I'm a weapon. You could probably beat me in a fair fight. I know I'm prideful and passionate. But passion does not trump experience when it comes to battle." Roon said as she hugged her knees.

"Roon... what did they do to you? This isn't the same Roon that held her own against a quarter of the Home Fleet on her own." Warspite said as she gingerly placed a hand on Roon's shoulder.

Roon sighed at Warspite's touch.

"I... I was the only one of us to carry a Human Kommandant. Bismarck and the others hated being controlled like that, but me... I... I feel at ease when someone else is pulling my strings. Like no matter what, I will have the support should things get ugly. But... When I went down that day in 1941... I wasn't gone more than a month before I was revived in a lab, awoken to the sight of the very thing I was created to eviscerate." Roon said as Warspite looked at her.

"What happened to your Commander?" Warspite asked as she watched Roon tense up.

"He... was killed, by Prince of Wales." Roon said softly.

"When her shell pierced your shields and took out the bridge..." Warspite said softly, realizing the exact moment that Roon had broke.

"Yeah... he died on the spot. And without Bismarck or the others... you took me out." Roon said, reliving the memories that remained.

"You said you woke up in a lab. What did you see?" Warspite asked.

"Observer Alpha. She had me and one other... A union ship. She... didn't make it." Roon said.

"But you were with Eugen when the two of you attacked Bermuda." Warspite said.

"I captured Eugen on a whim. The Kaiser wanted her, so I found her." Roon said.

"You do realize that Observer Alpha was being disguised by the cube in your neck, right?" Warspite asked.

"I do, but it's less enraging to believe that I was doing the Kaiser's bidding." Roon said.

"A way to cope?" Warspite asked.

"You could call it that." Roon said as she looked to the sky.

"Do you remember the name of the Union ship?" Warspite asked.

"I believe her name was Seattle." Roon said.

"Did her cubes survive?" Warspite asked.

"Yes. Observer Alpha has them on her person... wearing them like some kind of prize." Roon said, the anger beginning to slip back into her voice.

"Roon. We'll get her back." Warspite said.

"She... she was so hopeful. She wore a smile to the very end, but that smile held back so many tears. I consider her to be the lucky one." Roon whispered.

"Roon. I will see to it that you're the one to strike down that wretched creature. Despite my distain for the Ironblood... I find something in you to have a quality I find admirable." Warspite said.

"I will rip her to shreds... She will feel the pain that she caused me." Roon growled as Warspite rubbed her back.

"Let's get you to the Commander first. Then we can get you back into shape." Warspite said as Roon looked at her, but the gaze no longer scared Warspite, as it was soft and understanding.

"To think... I'd be helped like this... from the enemy." Roon said softly.

"We're allies in the war against the Sirens. There are no enemies among factions anymore. We will win this war, together." Warspite said as they sailed further south.

"Liebling. Come on, you can't drink Gangut's vodka so carelessly. Her Vodka is almost pure alcohol." Nimi said as she propped Isaac against the door to his quarters.

"Nimi? Where are we?" Isaac asked.

"Outside your room. But before we go in, I need to have a word with you, Mister." Nimi said as she put her hands on her hips.

"Nimi... not now, I have a headache." Isaac said.

"Liebling, I will not clean up your messes all the time." Nimi said.

"What do you mean?" Isaac asked.

"I had to take care of Norfolk again yesterday. She and I had a nice long chat about everything she's feeling. And she said something that made me think." Nimi said.

"What did she say?" Isaac asked.

"She said that she confessed something to you. That she was purpose made for you. But she cried with me, because she had meant it to mean much more than how you took it, you dense idiot." Nimi said.

"I... I thought she meant that from a utility standpoint. I didn't know that she... Is that why she keeps going to you?" Isaac asked.

"Yes. She sees me whenever she gets urges. She's still a novice when it comes to having a body, so her sexual urges are harder to repress." Nimi said.

"So... she's into me?" Isaac asked.

"Yes. Very much so. She says she cares deeply for you. This last battle kinda put the final nail in the coffin for her restraint. What she's feeling is love. And it's directed at you." Nimi said.

"And the reason that we're talking outside my quarters?" Isaac asked as the door opened and Norfolk poked her head out.

"C-commander!?" Norfolk said as she shut the door quickly.

"She loves me?" Isaac asked.

"She's also terrified of the prospect. So I promised that I'd be here with her... not that I would have taken much convincing." Nimi said as she traced his chest.

"So... you and her?" Isaac asked.

"Yup. So get your ass in there. Taking care of her gets me all hot and bothered too." Nimi said as she pushed Isaac inside.